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The removal of Mr Morsi by the army followed days of mass protests, largely organised by the Tamarod [Rebel] movement.

The protesters accused Mr Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood - the Islamist group of which he is a member - of pursuing an Islamist agenda against the wishes of the majority, and of failing to tackle economic problems.

Mr Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected leader, is in detention, as are senior figures in the Brotherhood. Arrests warrants have been issued for some 300 others.

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Mohamed ElBaradei: "We were between a rock and a hard place"

The army command has said it will not take "arbitrary measures against any faction or political current" and would guarantee the right to protest, as long as demonstrations did not threaten national security.

"Peaceful protest and freedom of expression are rights guaranteed to everyone, which Egyptians have earned as one of the most important gains of their glorious revolution," it said.

But Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gehad al-Haddad said the movement was refusing to co-operate with the new leadership and demanded the immediate release of those detained.

At his news conference on Thursday, he said the Brotherhood would take part in "peaceful, people-led protest".

Mohamed Soudan, foreign relations secretary for the Brotherhood-affiliated Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), said the army action and the arrests were moving Egypt "back to the dictatorship regime".

Comments

Comment number 47.

Abdi5th July 2013 - 9:47

Another thing BBC (and others) I've read that petition signed by 22 million Egyptians and nowhere does it include the words "ISLAMIST AGENDA" and I'm getting rather tired of seeing the BBC stick that into every article about a Muslim country. All that spin damages the BBCs credibility. Egypt's economy has deep structural problems which no one can solve in a year without deeply unpopular cuts

Comment number 46.

Peter_Sym5th July 2013 - 9:46

45. cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine JUST NOWI would like to think that, when the time comes, we can persuade our army to do the same for us.--Allegedly during Harold Wilsons term in office they WERE planning on 'doing the same for us'http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4789060.stm

Comment number 44.

A J D F5th July 2013 - 9:43

27.MidwayBattle And now what the left fear the most - a pro-west secular democracy.

Are you a real person or some troll-invented caricature? Religiously informed conservatism is normally the goal of the extreme right, not left. The strongest opposition to secularism in the West comes from the right, not left. If parody, remember this kind of parody is doomed to fail (c.f. Poe's Law).

Comment number 42.

Shaz5th July 2013 - 9:41

Is this the same el baradei who claimed that their were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq , morsi won the election what has el baradei won nothing he's a weasel of a human being always dancing to some masters tune , this is a military coup period and the arresting of leading figures the fjp shows that this has sinister intentions remind me what crime did morsi commit , that's right none

Comment number 41.

ResCyn5th July 2013 - 9:40

Look, regardless of the issues around it being a coup, one less religious government in the world is always a good thing. Good luck to the free thinkers in Egypt and I wish them the best for the future. I just worry any free vote may always swing in the favour of the 'vote for me as it's god's will' party line due to levels of ignorance/eductation.

Comment number 40.

justanotherpawn5th July 2013 - 9:40

I guess at the end of the day this is the "problem" and responsibility of Egypt and its people. Very few democracies have managed to get to a stable consensus view within a few months, let alone years (or centuries in the case of the UK).

Egypt has its military power as its final "backstop" in much the same way we in theory have with our Head of State (the Queen) that the Army swears loyalty to.

Comment number 39.

claussim5th July 2013 - 9:38

Egypt need to build a civic society- that take into account:1. Rights of all people living in country e.g Bill of Rights.2. Freedom to practice ANY religion or NONE.3. Get military BUDGET down to normal levels (1.5-4 %)4. Privatize military " nonmilitary assets" (hotels etc.)5. Establish good relation with neighbourhood6. Jobs!!!7. Get economy running ( tourists- exports- Suez canal)

Comment number 37.

Bellerophon5th July 2013 - 9:35

Is it possible (fingers crossed ..) that the Army will play the role of honourable umpire? Permitting democracy but booting out cliques? If so, could it be a model for emerging democracies??????? [But who decides who is a clique???]

Comment number 34.

ILoveEgypt5th July 2013 - 9:27

What is happening in Egypt is NOT a military coup-which is a deliberate false portrayal of it-just look at the millions on the streets not only in Cairoand Alexandria but throughout Egypt, even villages,listen to what Amr Moussa and all of Egypt is saying-plus the interim president is not of the armed forces.The campaign behind it collected 22 million signaturesin a few months.

Comment number 33.

Total Mass RetainComment number 33 is an Editors' Pick5th July 2013 - 9:32

The problem emerging democracies have is realising that winning an election does not give you the unfettered right to do what you want. Imposing a constitution that did not have overwhelming support and then usurping powers beyond that constitution showed Morsi did not understand that basic issue. If the Rule of Law is not respected and upheld by those in power, then democracy has no chance.

Comment number 32.

Abdi5th July 2013 - 9:31

If this is a so called popular coup D'etat, then it is worth mentioning that colonel Gadaffi's coup in the 60s also enjoyed popular support. In civilised countries you're supposed to remove unpopular countries by the ballot box, Egypt has just sent out the message that democracy doesn't work, unless it's the kind that supports Western interests

Comment number 30.

Lethnot5th July 2013 - 9:27

Morsi could have taken the high ground when the known under swell of a very unhappy large population was about to erupt onto the streets. All he had to do was suggest forming a coalition government of national unity to tackle the country's dire economic needs !! we're most unhappiness comes from. No he was to busy defending the MBH and his position, achieved by a very small majority!

Comment number 28.

Ukip5th July 2013 - 9:25

Time to follow the lead of the people in Egypt and get onto our streets and protest about the slide into an undemocratic EU that nobody voted for. Then again that would get in the way of Big brother and reality TV for most people.

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